Sheet-guiding mechanism



J. W. DICKINSON. SHEET GUIDIING MECHANISM. APPLICATKON FILED APE. 22, 1911 RENEWED MAY 4,

IQIS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. DICKINSON, OF GRANFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SCHUBERT PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed April 22, 1911, SerialNo. 622,812. Renewed May 4, 1915. Serial No. 25,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn W. DICKIN- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranford, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Guiding Mechanism, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to improved means for guidin sheets or webs, such for instance as music sheets or webs, the object of the inreadily adjusted to correspond with different widths of music sheets.

In these forms of self playing musicalirn,

struments in which a perforated music sheet is used passing over a tracker board these.

music sheets, as is well known, areusually mounted on spools and perforatedto corres pond with perforations in the tracker board, or bar over which the sheet 1s causedto travel,

the sheet being unwound from one roll on to another. In consequence, any error in the alinement of the spools or in their construction, or any imperfection in the width of-the sheet by reason of the fact that it has not been properly cut or trimmed, or because the same is not properly wound, or when the width of one sheet is different from that of another, as well as many other causes too numerous to need detailed mention, frequently causes the sheet. to travel transversely out of its proper position so that the perforations in thesheet do not correctly or properly coincide with the apertures or openings in the tracker board or bar, this resulting in the production of imperfect music. Therefore, to automatically maintain the sheet in its proper tracking position I have provided improved means which, as hereinbefore stated, is very simple in its construction and operation and which will effectively maintain the sheet during its passage over the tracker board in its proper tracking position, and which means may be readily adjusted to correspond with various widths of sheets, so that the sheet during its 'travcl mg movement will be automatically maiir tamed in its proper tracking position regardless of any imperfections in the sheet or differences in the width thereof.

I am aware that various means have been used to maintain the traveling sheet in its proper position, but those mechanisms of which I am aware are not only more or less complicated, but are usually incapable of use with different widths of music sheets and none of them have the advantages of the present improvement for the reason that none of them have a movable or adjustable port located away from the sheet, or such a port controlled by a valve having-contact with the sheet or web, whereby important advantages are obtained.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective view of a self playing pianoforte, with parts of the casing broken away to illustrate the present improvement attached thereto; Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the sheet guiding mechanism; Fig. 3 isa detail view of the movable port and its valve; Fi 4" is a view of a pneumatic or bellows which is utilized in the present embodiment of the apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the music sheet in different transverse positions thereof as it passes over the tracker board. 7

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings.

The present improvement is particularly adapted for self playing instruments, and in the present embodiment thereof is shown constructed for such apurpose, and may be carried by a suitable casing or support which may be attached within the casing of the pianoforte. This casing 2, which may be of any suitable or desired construction, supports a pair of music rolls 3 and 4, the roll or spool 3 usually carrying the record or its music sheet which is to travel over the perforated tracker board 5 when the same is wound upon the companion roll or spool For unwinding the sheet from one roll to the othe' suitable mechanism well known in this art is used, and therefore a general description thereof only is deemed necessary herein.

The music roll 3 is supported at one end by a journal or shaft mounted in suitable heart as, and this shaft (3 carries a sprocket wheel 7 connected l j a suitable sprocket chain 8 with another sprocket wheel 9 on a shaft 10 supported by the frame work. On this shaft is mounted a pinion 12 having a pin 13 therein forming one member of a clutch member 13, a corresponding pin, not shown carried on the sprocket J forming the other member of the clutch. Motion is imparted to the shaft 10, which is a sliding shaft, by a sprocket ll. Ffhen the shaft is in position shown in Fig. 2 the pinion 12 is in engageli'ltlltwith the gear ll thereby rotating the roll i and unwinding the music web from the roll vl'hen the lever for shifting this shaft ll) is brought to the right the pinion 12 is disengaged from the gear 1 and the clutch pin 13 will engage the pin on sprocket 9, at which time it will be seen that the roll 3 winding up the music from the roll :t. The sprocket 9 is loosely mounted on the shaft 10 and held in lateral position by the guide finger 10. Between these rolls 3 and *t is located the usual tracker board 5. having the usual perforations 16 with which the perforations in the record or music sheet coincide.

The shaft (3 is supported by the frame work for longitudinal movement, the end thereof projecting into position to engage an arm 17 carried by a bellows 18 secured to the frame work. The opposite end of the roll is supported by a spring pressed plunger or journal 19 by means of which the roll will. be maintained in such position that the end of the shaft (3 will be held in engagement with the arm 17 of the bellows. Pivotally carried by the frame work is a pair of levers 20 and 21, the lever 20 carryin; the movable or adjustable port, and for this purpose it is provided with an opening 22 to which a tube 23 leading from the bellows l8 hereinbefore referred to is connected. In the present instance this open ing is formed by a short pipe carried by the end of the le er and to which a flexible tube is connected. The lever 21 is pivoted adjacent to the lever 20 and one end thereof forms a valve, as at 2*- for controlling the port. a suitable spring being located between the two levers, whereby the port will normally be maintained in a certain condition which in practice is a bleeding or leakine' condition. The lever 20 is provided with a finger piece or handle 26 by means of which it may be manipulated as occasion requires, such lever 20 being frictionally maintained in the desired position by means of a. suitable set screw 20 and a coil spring 20". Leading from the bellows to the usual pneumatic of the musical instrument is another tube 27, the opening thereinto from the bellows being somewhat smaller than that of the tube connecting the bellows with the movable port to permit proper operation of the bellows in a manner about to be described.

The lever 21 is in such position that it will engage the edge of the music sheet during its traveling movement from the roll 3 to the roll l, so that if for any of the causes hereinbefore set forth the position of the sheet varies with relation to the tracker board the mechanism herein shown will automatically shift the sheet to have the perforations therein properly coincide with the perforations of the tracker board. For instance, if the sheet during its traveling: movement moves to the left it will shift the lever 21 into the position shown .in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby moving; the valve and further opening the port and permitting atmospheric air more quickly to pass into the tube and from thence to the bellows, thereby expanding the same and causing the arm thereof to move away from the shaft 6, whereupon the spring actuated plunger at the opposite end of the roll 3 causes the roll to more toward the right so as to again bring the shaft 6 into engagement with the arm of the bellows and so return the sheet to its proper position relatively to the tracker board and at which time the valve will return to its normal position relative to the port. If, however, the sheet should. crawl or move to the right, the valve would be shifted from its normal position to a. position where it would close the port more than in the normal condition thereof and thus permit the gradual exhaust of the air from the bellows which would contract the same and cause the arm to shift the shaft 6 and thereby the music roll against the action of the spring actuated plunger into proper position to have the sheet travel in proper position over the tracker board. It is understood, of course, that by reason of the fact that the outlet from the bellow; is of smaller diameter than the inlet thereto the air will pass therefrom with less rapidity than it passes thereinto. In practice, however. it is found that during the operation of the improvement, when the musi sheet is traveling properly, that is normally tracking. the valve lever is maintained in such position that the port is slightly open so that it leaks or bleeds. and thus maintains the bellows properly balanced, and it is only when the sheet shifts out of its proper tracking position that the valve closes the ile/ port entirely or opens it to a greater extent. The present improvement thus permits the use of a bleeding port to control the position of the sheet. When the valve is in other than its normal position, in which of course the port is slightly open or leaking or bleeding, it will therefore be in a position where it closes the port more than such port is closed in the normal condition thereof or where it closes such port less than in the normal condition thereof.

Should a music sheet of one manufacturer be narrower or wider than that of another the movable port may be adjusted and set to a different position, so that when the valve is in its normal position the lever 21 will contact with the edge of the music sheet when the same is in its proper position to track, and therefore, as will be immediately ap parent, the same mechanism is capable of use with different widths of music sheets.

In practice, if preferred, the movable port and the valve controlling lever may be duplicated on the opposite side of the sheet, so that movement of the sheet in either direction will operate the bellows through a movable port, and it will therefore be obvious that various modifications may be made and the details more or less varied without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

In addition to the foregoing advantages for the present improvement, by providing a movable port the mechanism may be used for transposing the music into different keys, that is, to a higher or lower key Without the necessity of moving the tracker board or re-positioning the spools, this being accomplished by merely adjusting the movable port to accord with the desired position of the roll relatively to the tracker hoard.

From the foregoing it will be therefore observed that not only is the present improvement automatically effective to properly guide the music sheet, but that it may also be used to transpose the music into a higher or lower key by the mere adjustment of the port, and that the present improvementcan be used on any width of music sheet by merely setting the guide lever so that it will engage the edge of the web or music sheet and then setting the movable port so that it will be properly positioned relatively to the valve. It will, of course, be understood in practice that when the music is to be transposed into a different key the end of the sheet will be attached to the roll 4- nearer to one end or the other as the case may be by any suitable means. For instance, the roll 4; may be provided with hooks 30 in staggered relation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a musical instrument, the combination with a permanently stationary tracker board, of means operative to move the music sheet laterally and means for controlling the operation of said means including a single independently adjustable port free of contact with the sheet.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination with a permanently stationary tracker board, of means operative to move the music sheet laterally, means for controlling the operation of said means including a single independently adjustable port free of contact with the sheet, and means in engagement with the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination with a permanently stationary tracker boa rd, of means operative to move the music sheet laterally, means for controlling the op eration of said means including a single independently adjustable port located away from and free of contact with the sheet, and means in engagement with the edge of the sheet and having a single valve for control.- ling said port.

4-. In a musical instrument, the combination with a permanently stationary tracker board, of a pair of rolls, .means for winding a sheet from one roll to the other, means operative to move the sheet laterally by mov ing one of the rolls thereof, and means for controlling the operation of said means including a single independently adjustable port located away from and out of contact with the sheet and freely adjustable at the will of the operator.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination with a permanently stationary tracker board, of a pair of rolls, means for winding a sheet from one roll to the other, means operative to move the sheet laterally by moving one of the rolls thereof, means for controlling the operation of said means including a single independently adjustable port located away from and out of contact with the sheet and freely adjustable at the will of the operator, and means in engagement with the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port.

(3. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to move the sheet laterally and means for controlling the operation of said means including a movable port, an adjustable lever carrying said port, and means in engagement with the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port.

7 A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to move the sheet laterally and means for controlling the op eration of said means including a movable port, an adjustable lever carrying said port, and means in engagement with the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port and comprising a lever in engagement with the edge of the sheet.

8. A music sheet guiding mechanism comthe operation of said means including a movable port, means in engagement with the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port, and means for maintaining said valve carrying means in engagement with the edge of the sheet and comprising a spring, said port being carried by an adj ustable lever and said sheet engaging means comprising a swinging lever.

17 A music sheet guiding mechanism including a permanently stationary tracker board and comprising means operative to move the sheet late ally and including a pneumatic, means for controlling the operation thereof including a single independently adjustable port. located free of contact with the sheet, and means in en gagement with the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port.

18. A music sheet guiding mechanism including a tracker board and a pair of rolls, means for winding the sheet from one roll to the other, means operative to shift one of the parts relatively to the other, means for controlling the operation of said means including a single adjustable port supported free of contact with the sheet and independently of such shiftable part, and means in engagement with the sheet and having a single valve for controlling said port.

19. In a musical instrument, the combination with a permanently stationary tracker board, of music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to move the sheet laterally in either direction including a bellows at one edge of the sheet, means for controlling the operation of said bellows including a single adjustable port, and means in engagement with the edge of the sheet and having a valve for controlling said port, said bellows and sheet engaging means being located at the opposite edges of the sheet and the port away from and out of contact with the sheet. I

20. In a musical instrument, the combi nation with a permanently stationary tracker board and with a traveling sheet or web, of means contacting with the web and held in its normal position when the web is in its normal position and effective to restore the web to such normal position when deflected or distorted therefrom including a single adjustable port located away from and out of contact with the web and supported independently of the tracker board.

21. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a pneumatically operated device and an adjustable bivotally supported port connected therewith and located away from the sheet and controlled by means in engagement with the sheet.

22. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means automatically operative to move the sheet laterally, and means ineluding a part in engagement with the sheet and movable laterally for governing said sheet moving means including a swinging port located out of contact with the sheet.

23. Means for controlling the position of a movable sheet or web, comprising a pair of pivotally supported devices, one having a port and one a valve for controlling said port, one adjustable relatively to the other and one shiftable relatively to the other and one carrying a part in engagement with the web, and means in communication with said adjustable device for controlling the movement of the web,

24. Means for controlling the position of a movable sheet or web, comprising a pair of pivotally supported devices, one having a port and one a valve for closing said port, one adjustable relatively to the other and one shiftablc relatively to theother and onecarrying a part in engagement with the web, and pneumatic means in communication with the adjustable device for controlling the movement of the web and having an in let and an outlet of different diameters.

25. Means for controlling the position of a movable sheet or web and including a port, a valve for controlling said port, one shiftable and one adjustable, and both pivotally supported means carrying the shift able member and in position to be engaged by the edge of the sheet or web, and a spring for maintaining it in engagement with the edge of the sheet or web.

26. Means for controlling the lateral movement of a moving sheet or web and comprising a pair of rolls, means for winding the web from one roll to the other, one of said rolls being supported for lengthwise movement, a pneumatic having direct contact with a part of said lengthwise movable roll for shifting the same lengthwise in one direction and having openings of different diameters, means for shifting it in the opposite direction, an adjustable port located away from and out of contact with the web and in communication with said pneumatic, and means in engagement with the web for controlling said port.

27. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, sheet winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, and means for controlling said shifting means and compr1sing a swinging port opening to the atmosphere and means in engagement with the sheet and movable thereby for controlling said port.

28. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to move the sheet laterally, and means for controlling the operation of said means and comprising a lever carrying a port opening to the 2lt111OS}')l1(l6 and a lever carrying a valve for controlling said port and having a part thereof in position to be engaged by the sheet.

29. In a musical instrument having a tracker boardprovided with a set of perforations and a pair of rolls for carrying a music sheet having another set of perforations, the combination of music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to regulate the position of the part carrying one set of such perforations relatively to those of the other part, and means for con trolling the operation of such regulating means including a single adjustable port, said port having a fixed position relatively to, but adjustable independently of, any of the moving parts of the instrument.

30. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising pneumatically operative means to move the sheet laterally. and means for controlling the operation of said means and comprising an adjustable lever carrying a port opening to the atmosphere and a shiftahle lever carrying a valve for controlling said port and having a part thereof in position to be engaged by the sheet, the said levers being so supported that on the adjustment of the port the sheet-engaging lever will he adjusted therewith.

31. In a musical instrument, the combination with a perforated tracker board and a pair of rolls for carrying a perforated music sheet, of sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to regulate the position of one set of such perforations relatively to the other, means for controlling the operation of said means including a swinging means carrying a single port and a valve for controlling said port and having a part in engagement with the sheet.

In a musical instrument, the combination with a perforated tracker board and a pair of rolls for carrying a perforated music sheet, of sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to regulate the position of one set of such perforations relatively to the other. means for controlling the operation of said means including a freely adjustable means having a part projecting crosswise of the plane of travel of the sheet and to the front of the tracker board in position to be adjusted at the will of the operator but otherwise fixed against movement and carrying a port, and a valve for controlling said port and having a part in engagement with the sheet.

In a musical instrument, the combination with a perforated tracker board and a pair of rolls for carrying a perforated music sheet, of sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to regulate the position of one set of such perforations relatively to the other, means for controlling the operation of said means including a freely ad,-

justable means having a handl and in position to be adjusted at the will of the operator but otherwise fixed against movement and carrying a single port, and a single valve for controlling said port and having a part in engagement with the sheet.

3i. In a musical instrument, the combination with a perforated tracker board and a pair of rolls for carrying a perforated music sheet, of sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to regulate the position of one set of such perforations relatively to the other, means for controlling the operation of said means comprising a freely adjustable memher carrying a port and in position to be adjusted at the will of the operator but otherwise fixed against movement, and a valve member for controlling said port and having a part in engagement with the sheet, said port and valve members each projecting crosswise of the plane of travel of the sheet and to the front of the tracker board for ope 'ation.

35. In a musical instrument, the combination with a perforated tracker board and a pair of rolls for carrying a perforated music sheet, of sheet guiding mechanism comprising means operative to regulate the position of the sheet perforations relatively to the tracker board by moving said sheet laterally relatively to the tracker board, means for controlling the operation of said means including an adjustable member carrying a port and in position to be adjusted at the will of the operator but otherwise fiXed against movement, and a valve member for controlling said port and hav ing a part in engagement with the sheet, both said valve and port carrying members projecting crosswise of the plane of travel of the sheet and beyond the front plane of the tracker board for operation.

36. IL music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, sleet winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, and means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a swinging port and means in engagement with the sheet and movable thereby for controlling said port.

37. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, sheet winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, pneumatic means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, and means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a single swinging port and means in engagement with the edge of the sheet and movable thereby for controlling said port.

38. The combination with a sheet or web, of means including a pneumatic, a single adjustable port, and a movable valve member contacting with the edge of the web for holding said pneumatic in a certain position when the web is in its normal tracking position and for controlling the movement of the means which effects the restoration of the web to that normal position when deflected or diverted therefrom.

39. The combination with a music sheet or web, of means including a pneumatic, a port, and means contacting with the web and cooperatmg with said port for holding said pneumatic in a certain position when the web is in its normal tracking position and for guiding or restoring the web to that normal position when deflected or diverted therefrom.

40. The combination with a music sheet, of a port and a valve for controlling said port and engaged by the sheet for maintaining said port in a bleeding condition during the proper tracking of the sheet.

41. The combination with a music sheet, of a swinging adjustable port and a swinging valve for controlling the port and en gaged by the edge of the sheet for main taining said port in a bleeding condition during the proper tracking of the sheet.

42. The combination with a sheetor web, of means including a pneumatic, a port, and means contacting with the web for holding said pneumatic in operation and in its balanced position when the web is in its normal tracking position and for guiding or restoring the web to that normal position when deflected or diverted therefrom.

4-3. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, shiftablc winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to in sure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, and means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a bleeding port and means in engagement with the sheet and movable thereby for controlling said port.

4A. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, sheet winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, pneumatic means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a bleeding port, and means in engagement with the sheet for controlling said port.

45. The combination with a music sheet, of a pivotally supported lever carrying a port, and a pivotally supported lever carrying a valve for maintaining said port in a bleeding condition when the sheet is normally tracking and having a part in engagement with the sheet.

46. The combination with a music sheet, of a pivotally supported lever carrying a port, and a pivotally supported lever carrying a valve for maintaining said port in a bleeding condition when the sheet is normally tracking and having a part in engagement with the edge of the sheet.

47. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, shiftable winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, means for shifting one of the part-s relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perfora tions with those of the tracker bar, means for controlling said shifting means and comprising an adjustable bleeding port, and means in engagement with the sheet and movable thereby for controlling said port.

4-8. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, shiftable winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a swinging bleeding port, and means in engagement with the sheet and movable therewith for controlling said port.

49. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, sheet winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, pneumatic means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a single. adjustable bleeding port, and means in engagement with the sheet for controlling said port.

50. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a perforated tracker bar, sheet winding means carrying a perforated music sheet, pneumatic means for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other thereby to insure the registration of the sheet perforations with those of the tracker bar, means for controlling said shifting means and comprising a single swinging bleeding port, and means in engagement with the sheet for controlling said port and comprising a single swinging valve.

51. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising a pneumatically operated de vice, an adjustable pivotally supported port connected therewith and located away from the sheet, and means in engagement with the sheet for maintaining said port in a bleeding condition during the normal traveling of the sheet.

52. A music sheet guiding mechanism comprising means for controlling the position of a movable sheet or web and eoreprising an adjustable port and a valve for con- Signed at New York, N. Y, this 21st day trolhng szud port, one adjustable relatlvely of Aprll, 1911.

,-A i 77* v to i11 otncl, l nd adamqd t0 DLIIDFTHI Sdld JOSEPH i DIOIQN b0}. port 111 a bleedlng condltlon durnlg the 1101'- nml tracking of the sheet, and means 111 com- Htnesses: nmnlcntlon wlth sand port for controlhng PETER DUFFY, the movement of the web. PETER A. DUFFY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington. D. C." 

